To Naples or not?
 

We'll be travelling in southern Italy next January and wonder whether we should include a few days in Naples on our way to Calabria and then Sicily. Our itinerary currently looks like this:
- Fly into Rome and stay 5 days
- Lamezia Terme for 3 days. This is to visit family in the area
- Taormina for 3 days
- Ragusa for 4 days
- Siracusa for 7 days
- Palermo for 6 days
- Return to Rome to fly home.

My question is: should we reduce our time in Siracusa and/or Palermo to leave room for a few days in Naples? This would be after we leave Rome and before we get to Lamezia Terme.

Moved to the Europe Forum

No.
Why add more transiting than you've already got. Unless you have a requirement to see Pompeii I would not bother with Naples. I found it dirty and uninspiring.

Definitely spend a couple of days in Naples! It's a fantastic city - check out Marija's and others' trip reports here.

Yes to Naples - a unique city with character of own - much maligned for crime I felt totally cool there. Pompeii is a short drive or train ride away.

No from me. Palermo is what Naples wishes it was. Cleaner, friendlier, brighter with every bit as much to see and do.

I didn't like Naples and I love Palermo. I'm guessing at least some of the people telling you to cut days in Sicily haven't yet been to Sicily.

Yes, go to Naples - it is beautiful and interesting. I also love Palermo

Naples isn't for the fussy. I'm not fussy. I love Naples.

I'm fussy. YMMV.

Guess I'm not fussy either! I haven't been to Sicily so can't compare, but I spent five nights in Naples last September and loved it. There is a lot to see there. If you aren't counting on a bunch of day trips from your Sicily stops, seems like you could take a couple of days for Naples and at least get a taste of what is there, not to mention a taste of the pizza.😁 I'd also mention that as a woman traveling alone, I never felt unsafe there.

This is a long vacation with a lot of moves. If you think you have the stamina, you could cut two days from Siracusa and a day from Palermo and visit Naples.

I have been to all of these places and really enjoyed them. They are all interesting.

I've been to both Naples and Sicily several times. Personally much prefer Naples to Palermo. There is no right or wrong answer - it is about personal preferences.
Pompeii, Herculaneum, The National Archaeological museum, Spaccanapoli - I think you'd struggle to find comparable anywhere else.
If you really want to see "dirty and uninspiring.", try Taranto (although it does have a stunning museum)

Though it might be unorganized and bit clumsy Naples is a must visit city in Italy, it has its own character which is unique among other cities in Italy. It's a paradise for foodies with many star rated restaurants.

Hi RosBlack,

We are also travelling to Calabria and Sicily this summer, and we are spending a few nights in Naples as our first destination. We were there a few years back and absolutely loved it. I would add a few nights to Naples and reduce time in Palermo and Syracusa.

For comparison, our trip is as follows:

Naples: 3 nights
Tropea: 5 nights
Syracusa (Ortigia): 3 nights
Noto (countryside): 3 nights
Favignana: 3 nights
Erice: 1 night
Palermo: 3 nights

Thanks, I am 76 and traveling alone. I was planning on a few days in Naples. I'm not fussy. I loved Sicily and would go back in a minute, but am trying to do south eastern Italy without a car, and it's a chore. I am hoping when I get to Bari, the buses are as good as Sicily, for the out of the way towns.

My grateful thanks to everyone who has shared their views and advice with us! The vote does seem to lean in favour of a Naples visit, so we'll add that to our trip. It's been great to have your other suggestions as well: the generosity of Fodor forum contributors never ceases to amaze me.